Peter Dutton has been elected to lead the Liberal party through the next three years in opposition after his party suffered a bruising wipeout in the federal election.
Mr Dutton was the only Liberal that put his hand up for the top job after former prime minister Scott Morrison resigned after losing a slew of once-safe Liberal seats to independents in wealthy, inner-city seats.
'I made a mistake'
Mr Dutton admitted he was wrong to refuse to support the National Apology to survivors of the Stolen Generations and their families in 2008.
"I made a mistake in relation to the apology," Mr Dutton told reporters on Monday.
The apology came after decades of survivors and First Nations communities campaigning for an apology from the federal government after states and territories offered their own.
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd greets community members in Parliament after delivering his federal apology to the Stolen Generation in 2008. Source: AAP
The newly minted opposition leader said he failed to understand the significance of the gesture.
"I understand the symbolism and I made a mistake," Mr Dutton admitted.
The opposition leader said his refusal to support the National Apology was a response to violence facing Indigenous women and children in Indigenous communities.
"At the time, I believed that the apology should be given when the problems were resolved and the problems are not resolved," he said.
He admitted that all governments — including his own had failed to deliver when it came to First Nations peoples and addressing disadvantages.
"The advancement of Aboriginal people in our country, education, health outcomes, Closing The Gap, all the rest of it — we have all failed."
Uluru Statement: 'we'll see'
The former home affairs and immigration minister has in the past refused to back calls for a First Nations voice to parliament outlined in the Uluru Statement from the Heart, deeming it a 'third chamber' of parliament.
"We have been clear that we want to work with the people to provide… recognition. We are not in favour of a third chamber or voice," he said in 2019.
But Mr Dutton seems to be open to changing his former position; stating he would await further details from the Albanese government.
"We'll have a look at what they're proposing... I want the symbolic nature — which I accept is very important to many people — to be accompanied by practical responses."
'Indigenous Voice is practical'
Advocate for the Uluru Statement from the Heart, Thomas Mayer told NITV News he hopes a change of heart could be on the cards.
"Enshrining a voice in the constitution is a practical reform," Mr Mayer said.
Mr Mayer said that the three-pronged approach put forward by delegates at the Uluru Conference in 2017 calling for a constitutionally enshrined Indigenous voice to parliament, treaty and truth-telling were all practical reforms.
Thomas Mayor is calling for the new Opposition leader Peter Dutton to support the Uluru Statement from the Heart. Source: Living Black
"All of the decisions in parliament... us being able to influence the decisions that they [parliament] make is a very practical reform," Mr Mayer said.
He said he hoped the new government and the leader of the opposition would work together to ensure progress is made on the Uluru Statement from the Heart.
"Let's just keep marching forward and build this movement for a better future."
